Container



. ooooo ooK r l aroooeaoouaoooooooooonocflrooooi 5. Sheets-Sheet 1 0 0 ooo0oooaooec CONTAINER co oa oooooococooooooouooao c. H. WILLIAMSON Filed April 22} 0004A:oooouocooooooocofioTo 1 May-31, 1938.

M y 1938. c. H. WILLIAMSON 7 2,118,874

CONTAINER Filed A ril zz, 1931 5' Sheets-Sheet s WL N 1 Gym/e72 227 Clarance/zZVzY/zkmsozz y 19334 c. H. WlLLlAMSQN 2,M8,874

CONTAINER Filed April. 22, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 31, 1938 Clarence H. Williamson, Cleveland, @1110, as-

eignor to The Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation oi ilihio Application April 22, ost, serial No. 531,925 14 olaiins. (oi. aim-r2) 5 viously adaptable for use with other systems of in transit on a railway car or vessel, the contents 5 transportation. are perfectly and completely protected from Heretofore, it has been the general practice weather damage and are als abs lut ly pr in using railroad type of containers, to'employ against theft.

a box-like unit provided with doors in one or no r bj o y invention is o p d a more walls thereof, which doors are held closed container o the typ hereinhefole i ica e 10 by any suitable form of door operators and th which consists essentially of two main parts, one handles then sealed with the usual railroad car an ns de g r ta r f r lat v y v y light seals. In the use of such type of containers, the construction, merely sufficient to retain e e same are loaded at the lace of business of the a dis r th r f ei t i p p y aded ccnsi nor, the containers then transported usualdition, or p ti d h t r pa a ut r 15 1y by truck to the forwarding railroad station, shell housing of s s rugged, W t r- -a plurality of such containers then laced upon proof st t on thr u u dapt d t be a car of open top type, the individual containers teleseoped over e Cage a temporarily looked delivered at the respective stations of destinafastened thereto w by, When a two ain tion and then transported, usually by truck, to P rts are assembled, they may be handled and 20 the place of business of the consignee. p t d in the usual y as a single unit In the use of containers of the type referred w ut dan r f a a t th nt nts from to, serious disadvantages arise. One such disany f th usu a rds of r sp t advantage is due to the presence of the doors in Another object of y invention is t Provide the container which doors, generally in pairs, a ta n of t e typ indi t d, wh r in the 25 occupy substantially the entire nd r id d transfer of the merchandise or other freight from thus weaken the container on account of the the pl e f i e of n n r o warehou e absence of solid walls, which weakness must be at y of Origin and from Warehouse a y of Compensated for by the use of heavier framing destination to place of business of consignee,

elements and sheets in the remaining walls, thus ay be done in a cage o a r of minimum 30 adding to the initial cost of material and dead weight s a e ra s r ru ks may a ry weight to be transported. Another of the disgreater pay ads w t ut c ssiv w h and advantages arises from the necessity of mainat less p n per unit of loadtaining weather-sealed joints around the edges Another object of y v n o is o p vid a of the doors, which is exceedingly diihcult, the typeof container, such t at the Original invest- 35 doors oft n bec mi sprung, thus permitting merit for a given amount of business is sub-' entrance of rain or other foreign matter to the stantially less h thajt I10W required for the interior of the containers and causing damage to handling of the same Volume of business in the contents. Furthermore, it is evident that telnels 0f the usual yp heretofore p ye 40 such door type of railway car containers may be this Object g n d by using only uch 0 easily broken into with resultant theft of the minimum number o outer shells as es a y to contents during shipment. Another factor which c n he fr i ht fr m station to station while is gradually becoming of greater importance, on a much larger numbe of inner cases r the like account of the stricter regulations governing Opmay be utilized in the conveyance of he freight erations of trucks on paved roads, arises because between the warehouses and place of business of th li it ti of o th t t uck re perwithin the cities of origin and destination. mitted to haul on paved roads. Containers of Other objects of y invention will more dearly the type in question are, as well known, very p e -th description l ms h heavyfrequiring handling by cranes, so that in after following taken in nn o ioni with the many places, trucks are restricted to the carryaw 50 ing of a very limited number of suchcontainers In the drawings forming a P t of h specifit, t r v I x cation, Figure 1 is a side, elevational view of a One object of my invention is to provide a container embodying my improvements. Figure container'for transportation of articles, especially 2 is an end, elevatio'nal view of the container merchandise, in less than carload lots, which conshown in Figure 1. Figure 3' is an enlarged, de- 55 This invention relates to improvements in containers and more particularly containers for use with railroad equipment in the transportation of merchandise, although the containers are obtainer may be loaded or unloaded with maximum facility.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container of the type indicated such that, while tailed, vertical, sectional view, corresponding to the line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a similar vertical, sectional view, corresponding to the line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is an enlarged, detailed, vertical, sectional view, corresponding to the line 5-5 of Figure 2, and illustrating more particularly the means of attachment between the inner cage and outer shell. Figure 6 is a horizontal, detailed, sectional view, corresponding to the line 6-6 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is an enlarged, horizontal, sectional view, corresponding to the line 1-1 of Figure 1, parts being broken away to better accommodate the view on the sheet. Figure 8 is a detailed, perspective of one of the blocks entering into the construction of the inner cage. Figure 9 is a part plan, part horizontal, sectional view of the inner cage of the container, certain portions of the flooring being brokenaway in order to better illustrate details of construction. Figure 10 is an' enlarged, vertical, sectional view corresponding to the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9. Figure 11 is a horizontal, sectional view, corresponding to the section line ll-ll .of Figure 10. Figure 12 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view, corresponding to the line l2-I2 of Figure 2, parts being broken away to better accommodate the view on the sheet. And

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12, illustrat- 20-20, one on each side and constituting bottomsills, four vertically extending angle corner posts 2l-2l; Z-bar end plates 22 and Z-bar side plates 23.

The frame elements just referred to are securely united together as follows. The four base angles or sills 20 are connected at the four corners of the container by four corner castings 24-24 each of which, as best shown in'Figures 1, 2, 6, and 7, is of right angular, horizontal section with two vertical webs25 and 26 riveted at their lower edges, as indicatedat 21-21, to the respective side and end base angles 20. Said webs 25 and 26 are also riveted to the respective flanges of the corner angles, as indicated at 28-28, thus providing a rigid construction at the lower 'corners of the shell. Said castings 24 also provide the mountings for the attaching bolts hereinafter referred to.-

At the upper'corners, the side and end Z-bar plates and the corner posts are secured together by other castings 29-29, the details of which are best illustrated in Figures 1, 3, and 4. As clear from the drawings, each of the side and end 2- bar plates is arranged with the web 30 thereof disposed horizontally, the inner flange 3| extending vertically upward and the outer flange 32 extending vertically downward. Each of the corner castings 29 is conformed to the Z-bar plates, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 and also to the slopeor pitch of the side plates, as

shown, said castings being riveted both to the vertical flanges 3| of the Z-bars, as indicated at 33-33 and to the depending flanges 32, as-indicated at 34-34. Each of said castings, 29 is also provided with a depending right angular corner section conforming to the angular corner post 2| and to which the latter are riveted, as indicated at 35-35. The corner castings 29 are each formed with an upstanding lifting hook 36 to permit of the attachment of a sling and the handling of a container by a crane in the usual manner.

The side and end walls of the shell are all what may be termed solid or fully closed, that is, there are no doors or other openings so that the walls of the shell are absolutely weather proof. Each of the side and end walls preferably comprises two sheet metal panels 31-31 integrally strengthened or rigidifled by a plurality of vertically extending corrugations 38-38. Each of said panels is riveted along its bottom edge, as indicated at 39-39, to the vertically extending flange of the respective base angles 20, and on the outer sides of the latter. At their upper ends, each of the panels 31 is riveted to the inner side of the depending flange 32 of the corresponding 2- bar side and end plates, as indicated at 40-40. In this connection, it will be understood that the panels for the ends, as shown in Figure 2, are square across the top, whereas the panels for the sides, as shown in Figure 1, slant to conform to the roof pitch. Along their vertical edges, each of the panels has its margin riveted to the inner face of the corresponding flange of the corner post, as indicated'at 4l-4l and it will also be seen from inspection of Figures 3, 4, 5, 6,.

and 7 that certain of the rivets for securing the corner castings 24 and 29 to the frame elements are also utilized in securing the panel sheets to the respective frame elements. In order to properly rigidify the side and end walls along their vertical median lines, a special joint is there employed as best illustrated in Figure 7. As there shown, the vertical joints between each pair of panels is obtained by using an inner plate 42 and an outer plate 43, said plates 42 and 43 along each set of vertical edges being riveted to the interposed edge of the corresponding panel by a vertical series of rivets 44-44. The outer plate 43 of each joint is vertically outwardly corrugated so that a tube-like post is formed which affords great strength against collapse, buckling or bending in any direction, it being understood that the upper and lower ends of each said post joint construction is secured to the corresponding side or end plate and base angle 20.

The roof is completed preferably by a single sheet of metal having the desired roof pitch incorporated therein, the marginal edges of the roof sheet being bent downwardly along all four edges and riveted to the upstanding of the Z-bars, as indicated at 45-45.

The inner cage'or retainer for the/merchandise consists essentially of a suitable base or platform of proper strength to sustain the weight of the merchandise, and a very light, more or less skeletonized superstructure, which latter may vary in detail as hereinafter indicated. The base or platform of the inner cage preferably comprises two side angles 46-46, two end angles 41-41, four corner castings 48-48, cross channels 49-49 and suitable supporting angles and braces hereinafter referred to. Each of the base angles 46 and 41 is arranged with its lower narrow flange 50 disposed horizontally and adapted to rest on the floor or other support and with its longer flange 5| extending vertically, the bottom flange 50 being extended outwardly for the purpose hereinafter described. Said angles 43 and 41 are four in number and uniformly spaced, extend from side angle 46 to side angle 46 and are united to the latter by suitable corner angles 54-54, the

lower flanges of the channels 49 being in the same plane as the flanges 50 of the base angles 45 and 41 so as to obtain a uniform support throughout the area of the bottom of the cage.

The floor of the base is preferably provided by a metal sheet conforming to the area of the platform structure and supported around its edges by suitable angles 56 and 51 secured to the base angles 46 and 41 respectively. On top of the sheet 55 are placed the wood planks 58-58, which may be secured in place by suitable wood screws passed upwardly through the metal sheet 55. In this connection, it will be noted that the top surface of the planking is flush with the top edges of the base angles 46 and 41. By thus, in effect, inserting the planking within the base frame flush with the upper edges of the base angles, the latter effectively protect the edges of the wood flooring against splintering or chipping oif, which might otherwise possibly occur from trucking the goods or when the shell is lowered over the cage.

As shown, each of the corner castings 48 is provided at its outer corner with an upstanding angle-shaped spud or projection 59 to which the superstructure frame elements are secured. Preferably, the superstructure frame elements are two in number, each in the farm of an angle bar 60 having two vertical sections 6! united at their tops by inclined sections 62 and 63 to just clear the end Z-bar plates 22 and to conform tothe pitch of the roof, as best shown in Figure 12. These two members 60, which together provide the four corners of the inner cage superstructure frame, may be anchored to the spuds 59 either permanently by riveting or by bolts, as indicated at 64Ehl. Where bolts are used, it is obvious that the superstructure may be removed and interchanged with others of somewhat different form so as to afford greater range in the handling of different kinds of merchandise. In the form of inner cage shown in Figure 12, only the sides thereof are provided with retainer walls which, in the form shown, may consist of heavy wire cloth suitably riveted to the frame elements 6|]. With this construction, it is evident that the two ends of the cage are fully open and available for the loading and unloading of the merchandise within the cage. For other classes of merchandise, the cage maybe modified, as for instance shown in Figure 13, where a plurality of horizontal shelves or partitions 6565 are employed, the same being supported at their ends and sides by suitable angles 66 riveted to the frame elements 60. In this construction, a roof sheet 61 may also be employed if desired to ob tain somewhat greater rigidity for the superstructure. Any suitable devices may be employed at the open ends of the cage to help retain the loading in place, which devices may be in the form of removable or hinged gates or bars which I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate.

Referring particularly to Figures 12 and 13, it

will be noted that the base angles 20 of the outer shell are all in the same plane with the lower flanges thereof extended outwardly and horizontally, so that the same are adapted to rest firmly with full surface contact on the corresponding out-turned, horizontal flanges 50 of the base angles 46 and 41 of the inner cage, thus providing a weather seal between the inner and outer members of the container. It will also be observed that the level of the floor of the cage is disposed several inches above the bottom edges of the outer shell, thus further minimizing any tendcontents while in transit.

When the shell and cage are assembled in telescopic relation, they are adapted to be firmly secured together by the following means, particular attention being directed to Figures 2, 5, 6, and 8. Each of the corner castings 48 of the cage is provided with a pair of heavy, horizontally, outwardly extended lugs 68, which are accommodated in corresponding recesses 69-69 in the corner castings 24 of the shell when the latter is placed over the cage. Each of said corner .castings 24 is formed with an offset rounded web 10 providing, at its ends, partial bearings 'H'H for the cylindrical ends 12-12 of a swinging T-bolt T3, the depending threaded shank of which is adapted to be entered between the corresponding pair of lugs 68 and the parts then rigidly secured together under any desired tension by means of a nut 14 engaging the undersides of the lugs 68. By loosening the nuts 14, it is obvious that the T-bolts 13 may be swung laterally outward, sufiicient to clear the lugs 58 and the shell then removed by a crane. With the parts locked or latched together, as shown best in Figures 2 and 5, it is evident that the two parts may be handled as aflunit in moving onto and off of the car equipment or elsewhere and that by releasing the T-bolts the shell may be removed and the cage with its lading then handled separately and placed on a truck for delivery.

With the form of container hereinbefore described, it is evident that the outer shells which are the heavy strength and weather-protecting members, need not be used in handling the freight between the warehouse and the places of business of consignor and consignee, so that greater pay loads may be handled by a truck and the loading and unloading of the cages done with maximum ease. Further, when the shell and cage are assembled and latched together for shipment on the railway equipment or otherwise, there is no possibility of damage to the goods from the elements, nor is there any possibility of theft, since the only way access to the lading can be obtained is by removing the outer shell, which on account of its weight, requires a crane. With my improvements, the use of all doors and corresponding expensive door operators may be entirely eliminated; the amount of equipment for handling a given volume of business may be materially reduced; and a greater range is obtained in the handling of small quantitles or assorted materials without having to miir the same in transporting from station to station.

While I have herein described my improvements more particularly with reference to rail- 'ency of rain or the like to reach any of the the like. It is further to be understood that the terms railway car type or railway type used be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain novel features of my construction, particularly of the outer shell, may be used to advantage in containers other than of the telescope type and the claims are intended to include all such other types except as they may be otherwise limited. All changes and modifications are'contemplated that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

- 1. A shipping container of the character described having side walls, top and end walls of sheet metal, separate horizontal and vertical binding strips terminating short of the upper corners of the container and connecting its top and side walls with the end walls and corner pieces continuous with the horizontal and vertical binding strips aforesaid, connecting the top, side and end walls of the container and completely filling in the intervals between the binding strips, the said corner pieces being integrally formed with hooks for engagement. by lifting tackle.

2. A shipping container of the character described having side walls, top and .end walls of sheet metal; separate horizontal and vertical binding strips terminating short of the upper corners of the container and respectively connecting the top and side walls with the end walls; and angle pieces connecting the, top, side walls and end walls of the container in the intervals between the binding strips, the said angle pieces overlapping the ends of the binding strips and being formed with hooks for engagement by lifting tackle.

3. A shipping container of the'character described having side walls, top and end walls of sheet metal; separate horizontal and vertical angle binding strips terminating short of the upper corners of the container and connecting its top and side walls with the end walls; and corner pieces continuous with the horizontal and vertical binding strips aforesaid, also of anglesection connecting the top, side and end walls of the container and completely filling in the intervals between the binding strips, the said corner pieces being integrally formed with hooks for engagement by lifting tackle.

4. A shipping container of the character described having side walls, top and end walls of sheet metal; separate horizontal and vertical angle binding strips terminating shortof the upper corners of the container and respectively 5. An inner member for a telescopic type of container for less than a carload lot, said member having a platform comprised of a rectangular metal frame, cross braces secured to the frame and flooring supported on the frame and braces, said frame including four corner castings, each having integrally formed attaching lugs extended laterally outwardly therefrom, said lugs. being located above the bottom supporting surfaces of the frame.

6. In a container of the railway car type for less than carload lots, the combination with a framework including bottom sills, corner posts secured to said sills, top plates and means connecting the corner posts and top plates; of a pair of sheet metal panels secured at their top and bottom edges to a top plate and bottom sill, respectively, and along their outer vertical edges to corresponding adjacent corner posts, each of said panels being provided with a plurality of vertically extending corrugations; a member of cross section adapted to resist buckling secured at its upper and lower ends to said top plate and bottom sill respectively, the adjacent inner edges of said panels being rigidly united to said member; means adapting the container to be lifted as by a crane; and load-supporting means at the bottom of the container.

7. An inner cage adapted to be telescoped within an outer shell of a railway car type container for less than carload lots, said cage including a rectangular base frame, a superstructure unit having corner posts rigidly united, and

means detachably connecting said corner posts,

of the superstructure unit to said base frame.

8. In a railway type of container for less than 'a carload lot, the combination with an inner cage including a base and relatively light weight frame superstructure; of an outer metallic rigidifled shell adapted for handling by a lifting device such as a crane and having all walls thereof free from openings and-arranged to be telescoped over said cage; and means for detachably securing the cage and shell for handling as a single unit, said means including a plurality of bolts and nuts carried by the shell and normally in 8. depending position, and laterally extended lugs on the cage base, said lugs being spaced an appreciable distance above the bottom supporting surface of the cage base, and the bolts being attached to the shell to support the same clear of the bottom of the shell.

9. ma railway car type of container for less than a carload lot, the combination with an inner cage and an outerdetachable telescopic shell, the cage having a bottom, rigid upstanding framework, walls and shelving providing a plurality of separate compartmentswherein for the lading,

the shell having rigid permanent metal walls and roof; and means, accessible for release when the shell and cage are in telescoped assembled relation for detachably securing them together and for handling as a single unit.

10. A railway car type of container for the repeated shipment of less than carload lots of lading comprising an inner cage and an outer shell of relatively sturdy weatherproof construction, said cage having a bottom member for supporting the lading and walls fastened to said bottom member suflicient to retain the lading in properly loaded condition, said walls extending a substantial distance into said'shell to establish telescopic relationship therewith when said cage and shell are assembled, said shell having rigid framework and metallic walls and roof and cooperable means on the cage and shell for releasably fastening said cage and shell together when telescoped, said means being accessible from the outside of said shell.

11. A railway cartype of container for the repeated shipment of less than carload lots of lading comprising an inner cage and an outer shell of relatively sturdy weatherproof construc- I tion, said cage having a bottom member for supporting thelading and walls fastened to said bottom member sufiicient to retain the lading in properly loaded condition, flanges extending outwardly from said bottom member around the sides thereof, said Walls extending a substantial distance into said shell to establish telescopic relationship therewith when said cage and shell are assembled, said shell having rigid framework and metallic walls and roof, the walls of said shell resting upon said flanges of said bottom member to form a weather seal, and cooperable means on the cage and shell for releasably fastening said cage and shell together when telescoped, said means being accessible from the outside of said shell.

12. A railway car type of container for the repeated shipment of less than ,carload lots of lading comprising an inner cage and an outer shell of relatively sturdy weatherproof construction, said cage having a bottom member for supporting the lading and walls fastened to said bottom member sufficient to retain the lading in properly loaded condition, flanges extending outwardly from said bottom member around the sides thereof, said flanges lying below the upper surfaceof said bottorn'member, said walls extending a substantial distance into said shell to establish telescopic relationship therewith when said cage and shell are assembled, said shell having rigid framework and metallic walls and roof, the walls of said shell resting upon said flanges to form a weather seal below the upper surface of said bottom member, and cooperable means on the cage and shell for releasably fastening said cage and shell together when telescoped, said means'being accessible from the outside of said shell.

13. A railway car type of container for the repeated shipment of less than carload lots of lading comprising an inner cage and an outer shell of relatively sturdy weatherproof construe tion, said cage having a bottom member for supporting the lading and walls fastened to said bottom member suoficient to retain the lading in properly loaded condition, flanges extending outwardly from' said bottom member around the sides thereof, said walls extending a substantial distance into said shell to establish telescopic relationship therewith when said cage and shell are assembled, said shell having rigid framework and metallic walls and roof, said shell having flanges around the bottom edges thereof adapted to rest the lower edge of the shell for supporting the latter by said member when assembled and to provide a sealed joint therebetween, and means accessible for engagement and disengagement from the exterior of the assembled shell and member, for detachably securing said memberand shell together at a plurality of points whereby, when the shell is lifted, said shell, member and lading thereon may be handled as a single unit.

CLARENCE H. WILLIAMSON. 

